How to Choose the Right TV Unit for Your Home
Quick answer: A TV unit (also called a TV stand, TV cabinet, entertainment unit or media console) is a piece of living-room furniture designed to support a television and store remotes, consoles, speakers, cables and décor. To choose the right one, match the unit width to your TV aim for a unit 20–30% wider than your screen. For a 65 inch TV, that means a unit around 160–180 cm wide; for a 75 inch TV, 180–240 cm.
Your TV unit is more than furniture it's the anchor of your living room. The right one balances screen fit, storage, room scale and style. This guide covers what a TV unit actually is, the right size for 50, 55, 65, 75 and 85 inch TVs, the difference between a TV unit, TV cabinet and entertainment unit, plus the design mistakes to avoid.
What Is a TV Unit?
A TV unit is a piece of living-room furniture designed to support a television and store media items such as remotes, gaming consoles, speakers, cables, set-top boxes and décor. Depending on size, layout and storage style, it may also be called a TV stand, TV cabinet, entertainment unit, media console or TV bench.
- A TV stand is usually a simple support for the screen with limited storage.
- A TV cabinet typically has doors or drawers for hidden storage.
- An entertainment unit is often larger, with open shelving, wider storage and room for speakers, consoles and styling pieces.
- A media console is a low, wide cabinet usually with closed storage that suits both TV display and general media storage.
In Australia, the four terms are often used interchangeably. What matters more than the name is whether the size, storage layout and style fit your space.
What is the difference between a TV unit and a TV cabinet?
A TV unit is the broad term for any furniture piece that holds a television. A TV cabinet is a specific type of TV unit with doors or drawers for hidden storage. An entertainment unit is usually wider, with a mix of open and closed storage, and often a place for speakers or consoles.
If you want a clean look with hidden clutter, choose a TV cabinet with doors or drawers. If you want display space for books, decor or open consoles, choose a wider entertainment unit with open shelving.
TV Unit Size Guide: 50, 55, 65 and 75 Inch TVs
Before choosing a style, measure your room and screen properly. Nothing looks worse than a TV unit that's too small for the screen sitting on top of it, or too large for the wall behind it.
How to measure
- Measure the wall width where the TV will sit.
- Measure the floor depth, especially in tight rooms.
- Leave 15–20 cm of clearance on each side of the unit to avoid a cramped look.
The rule of thumb for TV stand width
A TV unit should be 20–30% wider than your TV screen. This is the most reliable rule of thumb for choosing a TV stand. TV sizes are measured diagonally, not across the screen, so a 65 inch TV is roughly 145 cm wide meaning the TV unit should be at least 160 cm wide.
Quick TV-to-unit size guide
| TV Size | Actual Screen Width | Recommended Unit Width |
|---|---|---|
| 50" TV | ~111 cm | 130–150 cm |
| 55" TV | ~122 cm | 140–160 cm |
| 65" TV | ~145 cm | 160–180 cm |
| 75" TV | ~167 cm | 180–240 cm |
| 85" TV | ~189 cm | 220–280 cm |
What Size TV Unit for a 65 Inch TV?
For a 65 inch TV, choose a TV unit around 160–180 cm wide. A 65 inch screen is approximately 145 cm wide, so a unit at 160 cm is the safe minimum and 180 cm gives a more balanced, premium look with room for speakers, consoles or styling pieces.
Is a 140 cm TV unit big enough for a 65 inch TV? Not really 140 cm is narrower than most 65 inch TV widths and the screen will look like it's overflowing the cabinet. Stick to 160 cm minimum, ideally 180 cm.
Is a 145 cm TV unit too small for a 65 inch TV? It will fit, but only just the TV will sit edge-to-edge on top with no styling space. A 147 cm TV stand for up to 65 inch TVs works in tight rooms, but a 160–180 cm unit gives the most balanced look for everyday lounge rooms.
What Size TV Unit for a 75 Inch TV?
For a 75 inch TV, choose a TV unit around 180–240 cm wide. A 75 inch screen is about 167 cm wide, so 180 cm is the minimum and 220–240 cm gives a more balanced look with proper styling space.
Wide entertainment units suit open-plan rooms, wall-mounted screens and larger lounge areas the visual weight of a 75 inch screen needs a substantial base to balance it.
What size TV unit for an 85 inch TV?
For an 85 inch TV, choose a TV unit around 220–280 cm wide. An 85 inch screen is approximately 189 cm wide. Most 85 inch installations work best with a wall-mounted screen and a low, wide media console below it a freestanding stand under an 85 inch TV often looks visually unbalanced unless the unit is at least 220 cm wide.
TV unit types freestanding, floating or built-in
Once you've measured, choose the right format for your layout and lifestyle.
- Freestanding TV units the most flexible option. Renter-friendly, easy to move and suits most living rooms.
- Floating (wall-mounted) TV units save floor space, create a cleaner wall-mounted look, ideal for modern homes and smaller apartments.
- Built-in or custom-style TV cabinets best for long-term living-room setups. For a similar look without renovation, pair a large entertainment unit with floating wall shelves above.
Storage and functionality
A TV unit isn't just for the screen it's your living room's media hub. Storage matters as much as style.
Closed storage hide the clutter
For a clutter-free look, choose a TV cabinet with doors or drawers. Closed storage keeps remotes, routers, gaming consoles and DVDs neatly tucked away while maintaining a clean surface.
Open shelving show off or style up
Open shelves work well if you display books, vases, framed photos or plants and give easy access to consoles or streaming devices. The ideal TV unit usually mixes both closed storage for clutter, open shelves for styling.
Cable management
Messy cables ruin a neat setup. Choose a TV unit with cable holes, concealed routing or open space at the back for power boards. If you use LED strip lighting, gaming consoles, subwoofers or speakers, make sure shelves have enough airflow and depth for real tech use.
TV unit styles and materials
Your TV unit should work with the rest of your living room, not compete with it.
| Interior Style | TV Unit Match |
|---|---|
| Scandi / Minimalist | Light timber or white TV cabinet, clean lines |
| Modern Luxe | Gloss finishes, marble TV stand, LED accent lighting |
| Industrial | Matte black, iron frame with rustic wood shelving |
| Hamptons / Coastal | White or bleached oak with panelled cabinet doors |
| Contemporary | Mix of drawers and open shelving in neutral tones |
Material and finish
- Timber or veneer durable, warm, works across almost every style
- High-gloss lacquer reflective and luxe, but shows fingerprints
- Glass and metal combos modern and airy, less family-friendly
- Stone or marble-look tops premium look, low-maintenance
If your sofa, coffee table or dining furniture uses timber tones, match or softly contrast the TV unit finish for a cohesive living room. Browse TV units and entertainment units at Levede to compare sizes and finishes.
TV unit design mistakes to avoid
Five mistakes that throw off an otherwise great TV setup:
- Choosing a unit narrower than the TV. The screen overhangs and the setup looks unstable. Always go 20–30% wider than the screen.
- Putting the TV too high. Wall-mounted screens should sit so the centre is roughly at eye level when seated (around 100–110 cm from the floor for a 65 inch TV).
- Ignoring cable management. Visible cables make even premium furniture look messy. Choose a unit with built-in cable routing.
- Over-styling the surface. A TV unit with too many decor items competes with the screen. Keep it simple a small mix of books, plants or framed pieces, and don't place tall items directly beside the TV.
- Buying a unit too tall for the room. TV units around 45–55 cm tall work best for most lounge rooms taller units can dominate a small space.
Should your TV be bigger than your TV unit?
No your TV should always be smaller (in width) than your TV unit. As a rule, the TV unit should be 20–30% wider than the screen, so a 65 inch TV (145 cm wide) goes on a 160–180 cm unit. A TV that's wider than its unit looks unstable, blocks airflow, and is more likely to tip if knocked.
How do I know what TV unit to buy?
Use this six-step buying checklist:
- Measure your TV's actual width (not the diagonal inches).
- Measure the wall and floor space where the unit will sit.
- Pick a unit 20–30% wider than the screen (see size guide above).
- Choose the format freestanding, floating, or built-in style.
- Decide on storage layout closed, open or a mix.
- Match the finish and style to your existing living-room furniture.
If you want a clean process, work through these six steps in order most poor TV unit choices come from skipping the size step and falling for a style that doesn't fit.
TV unit styling tips
- Keep styling simple and balanced a small mix of books, plants, vases or framed pieces.
- Avoid placing tall items directly beside the screen they compete visually with the TV.
- Wider entertainment units can handle more styling; compact TV cabinets look better with fewer items.
- Use drawer or cabinet space to hide clutter and keep the top surface clean.
- Pair the unit with matching side tables beside your sofa for a cohesive layout.
Frequently asked questions about TV units
What is a TV unit?
A TV unit is a piece of living-room furniture designed to support a television and store media items such as remotes, consoles, speakers, cables and décor. It may also be called a TV stand, TV cabinet, entertainment unit or media console depending on its size, style and storage layout.
What is the rule of thumb for TV stand width?
The rule of thumb is that a TV stand should be 20–30% wider than your TV screen. TV sizes are measured diagonally, so a 65 inch TV is about 145 cm wide and needs a unit at least 160 cm ideally 180 cm wide. This gives the setup a balanced look and leaves room for speakers, consoles or styling pieces.
What size TV unit for a 65 inch TV?
For a 65 inch TV, choose a TV unit around 160–180 cm wide. A 65 inch screen is approximately 145 cm wide, so 160 cm is the safe minimum and 180 cm gives a more balanced look with styling space.
What size TV unit for a 75 inch TV?
For a 75 inch TV, choose a TV unit around 180–240 cm wide. The 75 inch screen is about 167 cm wide, so a wider entertainment unit gives proper balance and space for speakers or styling.
What size TV unit for an 85 inch TV?
For an 85 inch TV, choose a TV unit around 220–280 cm wide. Most 85 inch installations work best with a wall-mounted screen and a low, wide media console below a freestanding stand under 220 cm often looks visually unbalanced.
Is a 140 cm TV unit big enough for a 65 inch TV?
A 140 cm TV unit can work for some 65 inch TVs but may look tight most 65 inch TVs are around 145 cm wide. A 160–180 cm unit usually gives a more balanced look.
Should your TV be bigger than your TV unit?
No your TV should always be smaller in width than your TV unit. As a rule, the unit should be 20–30% wider than the screen. A TV that's wider than its unit looks unstable, blocks airflow and is more likely to tip if knocked.
What is the difference between a TV unit and a TV cabinet?
A TV unit is a broad term for any furniture piece that holds a television. A TV cabinet specifically has doors or drawers for hidden storage. An entertainment unit is usually wider, with a mix of open and closed storage.
What are TV unit design mistakes to avoid?
The five most common TV unit design mistakes are: choosing a unit narrower than the TV, mounting the TV too high, ignoring cable management, over-styling the surface, and choosing a unit too tall for the room. Sticking to the 20–30% wider rule and keeping the unit around 45–55 cm tall avoids most of them.
How do I know what TV stand to buy?
Use this six-step process: measure your TV's actual width, measure your wall and floor space, pick a unit 20–30% wider than the screen, choose the format (freestanding, floating or built-in), decide on storage layout, and match the finish to your existing furniture.
What is the best TV unit for storage?
The best TV unit for storage usually has a mix of drawers, cabinet doors and open shelves. This lets you hide clutter (remotes, cables, consoles) while still keeping speakers, books or décor accessible. Look for an entertainment unit at least 160 cm wide for a balanced storage layout.
Is a TV considered furniture?
No a TV is an appliance or electronic device, not furniture. The TV unit, stand, cabinet or entertainment unit that holds the TV is the furniture piece. When styling a living room, design around the TV unit (which counts as furniture) rather than the TV itself.